Nodakords take on the Flood of 2011

Original script seeks humor amid devastation

November 17, 2011

The Nodakords' program for this year has a tall order to fill finding humor amidst the devastation and disruption in the wake of the Flood of 2011.

But the group was motivated to fill it.

"Sometimes you have to laugh, or you just might cry." So said Gordon Troxel, director of the Nodakords barbershop singers. The a capella men's chorus believes it's time to laugh at the flooding with their annual Harvest of Harmony at the Sleep Inn on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Article Photos

Submitted Photos -- TOP: The Nodakords presented their Sing-out on Valentine’s Week, shown here at Edgewood Vista. -- BOTTOM: The members of the Dakota Blend barbershop quartet rehearse a new song. From left are Larry Linrud, Jim Myers, David Iverson and Terry Geisen.

"We have a script by Conrad Davidson again, it's his take on the flood," Troxel said. "The idea is to make light of it. The emcee is Eric Furuseth, who is also singing 'Old Man River.' You know, he has the biggest bass voice in Minot."

The script is titled "Down by the Riverside."

"To give you some idea of how serious we are about this, the characters are Ole and Gunnar," Troxel said.

There are three featured quartets, one each from Grand Forks and Minneapolis in addition to the local Dakota Blend. "They'll (the Dakota Blend) be singing 'That's Life,'" Troxel said. "The three quartets will be performing at some of the area schools on Friday. They all love that part of it, teaching barbershop to the kids."

Some of the other numbers on the bill are "Let's Get Away from it All," "I've Been Workin' on the Levees" (to the tune of "I've been Workin' on the Railroad, of course), "Come, Mr. FEMA Man" (to the tune of "The Banana Boat Song") and "Keep Your Sunnyside Up."

Tickets are $15 at the door, and there's a $5 discount coupon available at many neighborhood stores before the event.